The Striped Water Buffalo (Bubalus Dibaphae) has descended from the Asian water buffalo and lives in the world 10,000 years from now. It has evolved and has taken up several structural, behavourial and physiological adaptations in order to survive in their habitat. This evolution is only a new specie and still belongs to the genus Bubalus. The striped water buffalo's latin name Bubalus Dibaphae basically means 'striped buffalo' as 'dibaphae' means 'striped' in Latin. Once again, 'bubalus' refers to bovines, cud chewing mammals.
Scientific Classification (Bubalus Dibaphae)
Level
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Artiodactyla
Family
Bovidae
Genus
Bubalus
Species
Bubalus Dibaphae
Habitat
The habitat of the striped water buffalo is still similar to the habitat of the asian water buffalo. However, there are more predators and the evolution of the tiger is larger in size which makes it more deadly for the striped water buffalo. The striped water buffalo still enjoys wallowing in the water and mud but they do not do it for survival or to help lower their body temperatures as this evolution includes advanced sweat glands which will help the buffalo cool their body temperature down without necessarily having to wallow in mud or water.
Staying in temperate and tropical climates, the striped water buffalo is still a herbivore and feasts on the vegetation found in the temperate and tropical forests. These sources of food include grass, foliage or leaves from trees, bark and wood, and other sources of vegetation that grows alongside water banks or rivers.
Temperate habitats of the Striped water buffalo. Source: http://www.sassafras.id.au/images/nothonew.JPG
The newly evolved striped water buffalo is even larger in size as compared to the modern day Asian water buffalo. The striped water buffalo can grow up to 2.5 metres tall, measured from the shoulders. It is also much heavier and can weigh up to 1800 pounds. This evolution has grown larger in size due to the threat of their predator, mainly the tiger.
Tropical habitat of the Striped water buffalo. Source: http://chondroweb.nl/images/habitat_forest.jpg
Due to the fact that in the modern day, different species of water buffalos are already very wide-spread around the world as they are mostly introduced animals to countries that they did not originate from. The striped water buffalo is also a wide-spread animal that is found across the globe, though it mainly inhabits the tropical and temperate places in Asia such as Philippines, Malaysia, India and Nepal.
Behavioural Adaptations
Ability to swim This evolution of the modern water buffalo allows the striped water buffalo to have the ability to swim longer distances. Originally, the fossilised buffalo, the Pygmy water buffalo, was believed to be able to swim short distances between the islands in Philippines where they inhabit. However, the modern water buffalo only wallowed in water and mud but did not actually 'swim'. Environmental pressure that could have given rise to this ability may be because of where the striped water buffalo is located. With the ability to swim, it will allow the striped water buffalo to reach far lands and also allows them to find other sources of food.
Prefers to travel in herds The striped water buffalo prefers to travel with other buffalos of the same specie. Because of their large size, a herd of water buffalo will show predators that it will not be easy to prey on them. Therefore, traveling in herds is an act of defence of the striped water buffalo. Environmental pressure that has given rise to this ability would be the fact that the modern day water buffalo are usually preyed on by tigers when they are solitary. When the modern day water buffalos are in herds, it is harder for their predator to prey on them as a herd of large buffalos would fight back and may even cause injury to the predator because of the large sharp horns of the water buffalo. Travelling in herds have proved to be a strategy of the water buffalo to defend themselves from their prey.
Structural Adaptations
Straight pointed horns
The backward-curved horns of the modern Asian water buffalo has evolved into straight pointed horns due to the pressure given to it by the main predator of the striped water buffalo, the tiger. The evolution of the tiger has also evolved into a bigger size and therefore poses more threat to the striped water buffalo as compared to the threat it posed to the Asian water buffalo during modern times. The straight pointed horns allows the striped water buffalo to purposely lunge forward and attack the predator if in danger, this allows for a more straightforward attack and the sharpness of the horn allows the striped water buffalo to pierce the body of its predators. The environmental pressure that has given rise to this adaptation would be because of the fact that the predator usually attacks a single animal instead of a herd, and having straight pointed horns allows the striped water buffalo to fight a fair one-on-one battle.
Striped markings
Over the span of 10,000 years, the modern Asian water buffalo has evolved into a striped water buffalo. The name of the 'striped water buffalo' is based on the distinguised darker stripes formed on the rough skin of the buffalo. This adaptation allows the striped water buffalo to camouflage in the dark coloured vegetation found in the habitation of tropical and temperate forests, which will allow it to camouflage and hide from its deadly predators such as crocodiles and tigers. Environmental pressure that has given rise to this adaptation would be because of the fact that the modern water buffalos are always in sight of their predators, and will become an easy target to be preyed on. The striped markings would prevent it from always being preyed on easily as its predators will not easily identify the striped water buffalo.
Physiological Adaptations
Refined Respiratory system
The Striped water buffalo has a refined respiratory system and allows the striped water buffalo to hold its breath for several seconds. This complex respiratory system allows the striped water buffalo to swim longer distances between land masses and therefore will allow the striped water buffalo to inhabit different places and will also allow them to find more food sources if the food source in their habitat is scarce. Environmental pressure that could have given rise to this adaptation would be because of the fact that the modern and the fossilised water buffalo could not travel and swim long distances and may have had breathing problems that would not allow the water buffalo to reach higher altitudes. This refined respiratory system will also allow the striped water buffalo to reach higher altitudes such as allowing them to breathe in places where the oxygen scarce and will therefore allow the striped water buffalo to inhabit more places and to also find new sources of food.
«Modern Animal...............................................................................................Fossil Animal»
The Striped Water Buffalo (Future Animal)
The Striped Water Buffalo (Bubalus Dibaphae) has descended from the Asian water buffalo and lives in the world 10,000 years from now. It has evolved and has taken up several structural, behavourial and physiological adaptations in order to survive in their habitat. This evolution is only a new specie and still belongs to the genus Bubalus. The striped water buffalo's latin name Bubalus Dibaphae basically means 'striped buffalo' as 'dibaphae' means 'striped' in Latin. Once again, 'bubalus' refers to bovines, cud chewing mammals.Scientific Classification (Bubalus Dibaphae)
Habitat
The habitat of the striped water buffalo is still similar to the habitat of the asian water buffalo. However, there are more predators and the evolution of the tiger is larger in size which makes it more deadly for the striped water buffalo. The striped water buffalo still enjoys wallowing in the water and mud but they do not do it for survival or to help lower their body temperatures as this evolution includes advanced sweat glands which will help the buffalo cool their body temperature down without necessarily having to wallow in mud or water.Staying in temperate and tropical climates, the striped water buffalo is still a herbivore and feasts on the vegetation found in the temperate and tropical forests. These sources of food include grass, foliage or leaves from trees, bark and wood, and other sources of vegetation that grows alongside water banks or rivers.
The newly evolved striped water buffalo is even larger in size as compared to the modern day Asian water buffalo. The striped water buffalo can grow up to 2.5 metres tall, measured from the shoulders. It is also much heavier and can weigh up to 1800 pounds. This evolution has grown larger in size due to the threat of their predator, mainly the tiger.
Due to the fact that in the modern day, different species of water buffalos are already very wide-spread around the world as they are mostly introduced animals to countries that they did not originate from. The striped water buffalo is also a wide-spread animal that is found across the globe, though it mainly inhabits the tropical and temperate places in Asia such as Philippines, Malaysia, India and Nepal.
Behavioural Adaptations
Ability to swimThis evolution of the modern water buffalo allows the striped water buffalo to have the ability to swim longer distances. Originally, the fossilised buffalo, the Pygmy water buffalo, was believed to be able to swim short distances between the islands in Philippines where they inhabit. However, the modern water buffalo only wallowed in water and mud but did not actually 'swim'. Environmental pressure that could have given rise to this ability may be because of where the striped water buffalo is located. With the ability to swim, it will allow the striped water buffalo to reach far lands and also allows them to find other sources of food.
Prefers to travel in herds
The striped water buffalo prefers to travel with other buffalos of the same specie. Because of their large size, a herd of water buffalo will show predators that it will not be easy to prey on them. Therefore, traveling in herds is an act of defence of the striped water buffalo. Environmental pressure that has given rise to this ability would be the fact that the modern day water buffalo are usually preyed on by tigers when they are solitary. When the modern day water buffalos are in herds, it is harder for their predator to prey on them as a herd of large buffalos would fight back and may even cause injury to the predator because of the large sharp horns of the water buffalo. Travelling in herds have proved to be a strategy of the water buffalo to defend themselves from their prey.
Structural Adaptations
Straight pointed horns
The backward-curved horns of the modern Asian water buffalo has evolved into straight pointed horns due to the pressure given to it by the main predator of the striped water buffalo, the tiger. The evolution of the tiger has also evolved into a bigger size and therefore poses more threat to the striped water buffalo as compared to the threat it posed to the Asian water buffalo during modern times. The straight pointed horns allows the striped water buffalo to purposely lunge forward and attack the predator if in danger, this allows for a more straightforward attack and the sharpness of the horn allows the striped water buffalo to pierce the body of its predators. The environmental pressure that has given rise to this adaptation would be because of the fact that the predator usually attacks a single animal instead of a herd, and having straight pointed horns allows the striped water buffalo to fight a fair one-on-one battle.
Striped markings
Over the span of 10,000 years, the modern Asian water buffalo has evolved into a striped water buffalo. The name of the 'striped water buffalo' is based on the distinguised darker stripes formed on the rough skin of the buffalo. This adaptation allows the striped water buffalo to camouflage in the dark coloured vegetation found in the habitation of tropical and temperate forests, which will allow it to camouflage and hide from its deadly predators such as crocodiles and tigers. Environmental pressure that has given rise to this adaptation would be because of the fact that the modern water buffalos are always in sight of their predators, and will become an easy target to be preyed on. The striped markings would prevent it from always being preyed on easily as its predators will not easily identify the striped water buffalo.
Physiological Adaptations
Refined Respiratory systemThe Striped water buffalo has a refined respiratory system and allows the striped water buffalo to hold its breath for several seconds. This complex respiratory system allows the striped water buffalo to swim longer distances between land masses and therefore will allow the striped water buffalo to inhabit different places and will also allow them to find more food sources if the food source in their habitat is scarce. Environmental pressure that could have given rise to this adaptation would be because of the fact that the modern and the fossilised water buffalo could not travel and swim long distances and may have had breathing problems that would not allow the water buffalo to reach higher altitudes. This refined respiratory system will also allow the striped water buffalo to reach higher altitudes such as allowing them to breathe in places where the oxygen scarce and will therefore allow the striped water buffalo to inhabit more places and to also find new sources of food.
Bibliography
1. Respiratory system. (2010). In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved July 26, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respiratory_system2. Smith, S.E. (2010). What is a water buffalo? Retrieved July 26, 2010 from
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-water-buffalo.htm